Apparatus for lifting furnace-doors.



S. DILLON. APPARATUS FOR LIFTING FURNACE DULY RS.

APPLICATION FILED APR- IG. I914- Patented Dec. 11, 19W.

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APPARATUS FOR LIFTING FURNACE DOORS.

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SYDNEY DILLON, 01E EDGEWOOID, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR LIFTING FURNACE-DOORS.

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' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 11, 1917.

7 Application filedvApril 16, 1914. Serial No. 832,402.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SYDNEY D 1L LON, a citizen of the United States, residlng at I Edgewood, in the county'of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Apparatus for Lifting.

v length.

Another object of my invention is to provide a door lifting mechanism having novel means whereby the flexible door lifting connections are actuated in raising and lowering the doors. I

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved controlling mechanism whereby the operation of a series of door lifting mechanisms is effected from a central point or station.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a door lifting mechanism having improved means whereby the travel of the lifting mechanism is limited and over-travel thereof in either direction is avoided and prevented.

Still further objects of my invention will appear hereinafter as the invention is more fully described and more specifically point ed out in the specification and appended claims.

Referring to the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan show ng diagrannnatically a series of five door lifting devices positioned with respect to each other and to-the adjacent ends of two regenerative open hearth furnaces in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional end elevation showing the furnace in cross section with the door operating mechanism applied thereto in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 3 is a plan showing, on an enlarged scale, the construction and arrangement of the door lift-ing mechanism, as constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation partly in cross section, of the lifting mechanism shown 1n Figs. 3 and'4.

In the accompanying drawings, the numerals 2 and 3 designate the adjacent ends of-two regenerative furnaces, and 4 is a platform, extending lengthwise between the pairs of columns 5, 5, and 6, 6, provided to support the track girders 7 and 8, of two overhead traveling cranes. The cranes not forming part of this invention are not shown and will not be described.

The platform 4 is conveniently positioned above the floor level, on the rear or pouring side ,of the furnaces. A series of five charging door openings are provided on the front or'charging side of the furnaces and each of these openings has a sliding door which normally closes the door opening and which is arranged to be raised or lifted in opening. Positioned upon the platform 4 is a series -of five dt'ior lifting devices, one for each of two doors on the end of the furnace 2, and

of three doors 9n the end of the Other furnace 3.

ltotatably mounted on the channel beams I 8 connecting the upper ends of the buckstaves 8" on. the front of the furnaces, im' mediately above the center of each door opening and the door therefor, is a sheave wheel or pulley 8. Flexible connections 8!, one end of each of which is attached to a furnace door 9, pass around the pulleys 8 above each door and then extend horizontally toward the lifting mechanism on the platform 4;.

Each door lifting mechanism comprises a base plate 10 having bearings 11, 11, rigidly secured thereon for the horizontal shaft 12. Keyed or otherwise secured on the shaft 12 at an intermediate point in the length thercof, is a worm-wheel 13, and on the ends of the shaft 12 overhanging the bearings 11, 11 are drums 14 which also are keyed to and rotate with the shaft. Also secured on the bedplajte 10 below the shaft 12 and wormwheel 13 are bearings 16, 16, for the horizontal worm shaft 17, this shaft having a worm 18 thereon which may form an integral part of or may be removably secured on the shaft 17, asjis desired. The worm-wheel 13 and worm 18 are within the worm-wheel casing 1!) which comprises part of the casting forming the bearings 11, l1 and bearings 16, 16.

The ends of the Worm-shaft 17 project through stuffing boxes on the ends of the v 4 bearings 16, and glands 20 are positioned in these stutling boxes to-prevent loss of the oil or grease, a quantity of which is kept within the casing 19 to lubricate the worm wheel 13 and worm 18.

The shaft 17 also extends through a bear ing 21 on the base-plate 10 and its overhanging end has a spur gear keyed thereon. The teeth of the spur gear :22 are in mesh with those of a spur pinion 23 on the end of the armature shaft 21 of the driving motor 25. this motor also being mounted upon the base-plate 10.

The opposite end of the armature shaft 31 is provided with a brake band-wheel 26 and a brake band 27 is arranged to engage with the band wheel 26-, this brake band being connected to and operated by the core of the solenoid 25). The solenoid 25.) is secured on. the base plate 10, and one end of the brake band is pivotally secured to this base plate 10.

Fastened by one end to each of the drums 141-l on the worm-wheel shaft 12 is a rope or other flexible connection 30 and the other ends of these two flexible connections 30, 30 are connected, one to each end of a yoke or cross-bar 31'. An eye-bolt 32 is adjustably mounted on each of the yokes or cross-bars,

the nuts on the screw threaded end of the eye-bolt affording a convenient means for adjusting and holding the eye-bolt in adjusted position on the cross bar 31. The eye-bolt 3:2 on each cross bar is connected to one end of one of the flexible connections 8 by which the doors are operativcly connected't'o the door lifting mechanism on the platform 1.

Adjustably secured on one flange of each of the rope drums 14 is a shoe, 3% or 35 the shoes being arranged to engage with the anti-friction roller 36 on the end of the pivoted lever 37 forming part of the quick break switches 38 by which over-travel of the drums is avoided and prevented. The switches areposltioned on the shelves 42 located on opposite sides of the worm casing.

Each lever 37 has a contact 39 on one end which engages with a second contact 40 and the contact 40 is securedv on the end of the pivot bearing 41 on which the lever 37 is pivotally mounted.

Theshoe 34 on the drum 14 is arranged to operate to break the circuit leading to the motor when the drums are turned in one direction, and the shoe '35 on the opposite drum 14 engages with the anti-friction roller 36 on the pivoted lever 37 on the other side of the casing, to break the circuit and stop the motor when rotating the drums in the opposite direction.

1n the operation of my improved apparatus the door lifting mechanism is erectcdtfon the platform 4, and the yoke 31 on each of the door lifting devices is connected by the chain or like flexible connection 8 with one of the doors 9 on the front of the furnaces.

A rheostat or other suitable motor oper ating and controlling device for each of the door lifting devices is provided, these devices being assembled in any suitable location generally at a point in front ofthe furnaces and out of the way of the furnace charging machines.

When it is desired to lift one of the doors, the rheostat is moved to supply current to the motor 25. The motor being thereby caused to rotate, turns the' wornrshaft 17, and, through the worm 18, the worm-wheel 13 and shaft 1:! therefor. When the wormshaft 17 is turned the ropes or cables 30 attached to the drums 1+, 14 on the worm wheel shaft 12 are wound on the drums, and through the cross-ba r or yoke 31 pull on the flexible connection 8 secured thereto and lift the door attached to one end of the connection 8 1 By moving the rheostat into a neutral position the motor 25 is stopped and the door will be held in its raised or partly raised position until the motor is again set in motion, the worm and worm-wheel forming a convenient means for locking the apparatus in stationary position.

When the door is to be lifted to its full height, as ordinarily is the case, the operator sets the rheostat to start the motor. When the motor has turned sutliciently to rotate the drums 14, 1+, on the worm-wheel shaft'through a complete revolution, a shoe 3st or 35 on the flange of a drum 11 will engage the roller 36 on the end of a pivoted lever 37 and tilt this lever so as to break the circuit leading to the motor through the contacts 39 and 40. When this occurs the motor will stop, and remain in this position until the operator throws the rheostat in position to supply current to the motor to rotate the motor in the opposite direction.- The motor will then rotate in the opposite stop the motor. Thepinotor, however, may.

be stopped during any part of the door lowering operation by turning the rheostat to its neutral position.

The above described operations are performed as required with each of the series of separate and independently controlled door lifting devices in raising and lowering the series of doors on the furnaces.

The advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The apparatus is simple and is easily kept in repair. The door lifting mechanism 1s 10- catcd out of the way and in a position where it can be readily inspected and, if necessary,

repaired. By locating the lifting devices on a platform between the furnaces and above the floor level, out of the way of the furnaces, the liability of damage to the apparatus by the heat of the furnaces is avoided and prevented.

lilodifications in the construction and ar ra-ngement oi the parts may be made Without departing from my invention defined in the appended claims.

I claim-- 1. Furnace door operating means, comprising two drums, flexible coi'inections adapted to Wind upon and unwind from said drums and having connection with the door to be operated, actuating means for rotating the drums in each direction, a trip aseociated with one of the drums to th ow the actuating means out of actionwhen reaching the predetermined limit of movement in one direction, and a second trip associated with the other drum for throwing the actuating means out of action when reaching the predetermined limit of movement in the opposite direction.

2. Furnace door operating means, com-- prising two drums, flexible connections adapted to wind upon and unwind from said drums and having connection with the door to be operated, actuating means for rotating the drums in each' direction, a trip adjustably associated With one of the drums to throw the actuating means out of action when reaching the predetermined limit of -mo\'ement in one direction, and a second trip adjustably associated with the other drum for throwing the actuating means out of action when reaching the predetermined limit of movement in the oppositedirection.

3. Furnace door operating means comprising two drums, flexible connections adapted to Wind upon and unwind from said adapted to wind upon and drums and having connection With the door to be operated, actuating means for rotating the drums in each direction, a trip n'iounted upon one oi the drums and adapted to throw the actuating means out oi op-- eration when reaching; the predetermined limit of increment in one direction, and a second trip mounted upon the remaining drum and adapted. to throw the actuating means out of operation when reaching the prodcteriuined limit of morcment in'the opposite direction.

4. Furnace door operating moans coinprising two drums, flexible connectitms unwind from said drums and having connection with thc'door to be operated, actuating means; for rotating the drums in each direction, trips mount cd upon the drums, and trip levers disposcrtl to be operated by the respective trips to throw the actuating means out of operation. when reaching the predetermined limit of movement in each direction.

5. Furnace door operating means, comprising a shaft, trally to the shaft, drums keyed on the ends of the shaft, flexible connections adapted to wind upon the drums, a yoke having the flexible cor ections attached to the ends ihercofln connection adjustahly' attached to the yoke at a central point,-tripe mounted upon the driuns, and trip operated means for tin-owing;- the driving means out of operation at the predetermined limit of movement lIl'OtlCh direction. 4

In testimony whcrcol, l have hereunto set my hand.

SYDNEY DILLON.

Witnesses .lonx. it. hitch lumen, J Anne 8. Sonwmivinzno.

driving' means applied cenill ii 

